The Matrix – a Hollywood movie released with two sequels as Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions together called the Matrix Trilogy is a very good movie and there is no doubt about it. But what one doesn’t know or was purposefully left by the directors of the movie was the hidden meaning behind the Movie. After watching the movie, most people are left with intriguing questions and some left with their own meaning of what the Matrix is. But why am I discussing a movie in this book/ Does it have anything to do with attaining Nirvana? Does it have anything to do with Buddhism? The answer is a definite yes. The movie is a good blend of Buddhist teachings and Computer concepts and a story of its own.

A disclaimer here – The views and interpretation of the Movie is of the author alone and are not expected to match the view of the directors or any other person, though it is a good analogy for Buddhist teachings.

Concept:

The two worlds dominating the movie are the Matrix and the Zion.

Matrix: The Matrix is a software world, powered by human beings, who are used as batteries to run the Matrix. All the human senses are emulated by the software called Matrix, which makes them feel the virtual world is real. Everything in the Matrix is a program. The birds (all animals), all events, the environment, etc are all programmed software.

The Matrix represents our world of sense pleasures. Our world like the Matrix is bound by Ignorance. We like the people in Matrix are unable to see the reality as it is. Our world like the Matrix is conditioned, conditioned by the mind to be real and permanent, which in reality is impermanent, and lacking in substantialness and bound to deliver Dukkha.

Zion: The real world (in the movie Matrix). The human beings trapped in the Matrix are freed by the residents of Zion. Morpheus rescues Neo from the Matrix as he believes that Neo will be able to rescue all the people from the Matrix.

The Zion represents the Community of Monks/Buddhists called Sangha. The Arahants and the members of the Sangha try to liberate the laymen with Buddha’s Teachings (Dhamma), from the world of sense pleasures which is bound by dukkha.

Neo: An Acronym for The ‘One’ who will free all the people from the Matrix. Mr. Anderson in Matrix and called Neo in Zion. He is a Hacker in Matrix with inquisitive mind and encouraged by Morpheus to understand the Matrix. He gains understanding of the Matrix, which gives him more control and power in Matrix and he is even able to fly freely in Matrix.

Neo is an analogy for the Buddha [The Enlightened/Awakened ‘One’]. Buddha understood the world of Samsara, the Dukkha and became free from the world of Samsara to attain Nirvana. It can be observed that Neo represents the future Buddha – Maitreya.

Morpheus: Morpheus is a resident of Zion with very strong beliefs. He believes that Neo can saves the lives of those in Matrix. He is ready to give is life and limb to save Neo so the all the people in the Matrix can be freed.

Here Morpheus represents a Bodhisattva, who is ready to give his life and limb for the benefit of others. Also Morpheus is bald which shows his association with Buddhist monks.

The Architect: The Matrix is programmed by the Architect, who in turn is also a software program and part of Matrix.

The Architect represents the world of Gods – the great architect of the Universe.

The Oracle: The Oracle also represents Deva Loka. She knows the future and understands the Matrix and its workings, but doesn’t have much control on it.

Merovingian: Merovingian is a person with huge amount of money and power. He trades in information. Even though he has a lot of money and power he wants more money and more power.

Merovingian represents the world of Titans who fight with each other and the Gods for more power and status.

The Twins: Has the ability to pass through Material Objects.

They represents the world of Hungry Ghosts.

Birds : The birds in Matrix are programs similar to programs written for sunrise and sunset ….

The birds in Matrix represents the animal world. They have consciousness, but lack understanding and knowledge.

Lets us review the dialogues of the Matrix Triology

The Matrix

Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

Here Morpheus refers to the nature of Samsara or the world of sense pleasures, that blinds us from observing the truth.

Morpheus: Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

Morpheus here speaks of Nirvana. It is very difficult to explain Nirvana. You have to experience it yourself.

Morpheus: Is it really so hard to believe? Your clothes are different. The plugs in your arms and head are gone. Your hair has changed. Your appearance now is what we call residual self image. It is the mental projection of your digital self.

Here Morpheus speaks of the mind and body duality, we saw in the chapter Dependent Origination.

Morpheus:What is real? How do you define real? If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. This is the world that you know…. You’ve been living in a dream world, Neo.

Here again Morpheus speaks of the nature of Samsara, the world as we see with our limited faculties of senses – the Six Senses and interpreting it as real or permanent.

Morpheus : When the Matrix was first built, there was a man born inside who had the ability to change whatever he wanted, to remake the Matrix as he saw fit. It was he who freed the first of us, taught us the truth: ‘As long as the Matrix exists the human race will never be free.’ After he died the Oracle prophesied his return and that his coming would hail the destruction of the Matrix…. That is why there are those of us who have spent our entire lives searching the Matrix looking for him.

Here Morpheus refers to Gautama, the Buddha, who freed the first of us from suffering, from dukkha. The Buddha taught us the Four Noble truth. After his death it is prophesied that a future Buddha, Maitreya, having deep compassion and incomparable love for all living beings would come into existence. A lot of Buddhist countries are searching for Maitreya – The future Buddha.

Morpheus: I’m trying to free your mind, Neo, but I can only show you the door, you’re the one that has to walk through it.…. You have to let it all go, Neo, fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind.

Here Morpheus speaks of the Noble Eight Fold path, that has to be followed by each one for himself. He also speaks of freeing our mind through meditation and awareness.

Morpheus: The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you’re inside, you look around. What do you see? Business people, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system, and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it.

Until people are aware of Nirvana, aware of the three universal truth of impermanence, not self and Dukkha, they are inert and do not want to be unplugged or want to remain in the world of sense pleasures. They also expect you to enjoy the world of sense pleasures. Thus, they will prevent you from attaining Nirvana.

Cypher: You know, I know this steak doesn’t exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss.

Even those who know the Buddha’s teachings are so attracted to sense pleasures that they don not want to leave it. They would prefer to remain ignorant and remain in the endless cycle of Samsara.

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead only try to realize the truth….Then you’ll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

You need to realize the three universal truth of impermanence, not self and dukkha. We see unsatisfactoriness or suffering in the world, while unsatisfactoriness exists within ourselves by not realizing the truth.

Morpheus: Neo, sooner or later you’re going to realize, just as I did, that there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

Here Morpheus speaks of following the Eight Fold Path. While most people know the Eight Fold Path and some are even experts in Buddhist philosophies, very few actually follow the path. Only by following the path can Nirvana be attained.

Like this:

What is the graduation System? Why was it needed?

We found after 4 years of practicing Buddhism, that we were unable to judge the progress we made in these years. We found our education system very effective in telling our progress and also motivating us for further progress.

The graduation System that we devised to judge our progress is similar to our educational system. This will help us to measure our progress and also motivate us. But there is a difference. Here we will have to judge our progress for ourselves as no one else can know what progress we have made. This chapter provides us the necessary progress guidelines.

Practice

Level 1(1 yr): We are aware of all our actions and are able to avoid breaking any of the precepts in action.

Level 2(2 yr): We are aware of our speech in addition to our actions and are able to avoid breaking any of the precepts in action and speech.

Level 3(3 yr): We have achieved above level and are aware of all our thoughts and are able to avoid breaking any of the precepts in thoughts.

Level 4(4 yr): We are aware of all our thoughts, speech and actions through the day and are able to avoid breaking any of the precepts in action, speech and thought. We maintain awareness all the time.

Level 5(5 yr): We have achieved above levels and are able to meditate properly and for at-least 1 hour per day for at least 4 days per week. We now understand the importance, benefits and procedure for meditation.

Insight

Level 6(6 yr): We have achieved above levels and are free from greed, anger and ignorance. Ignorance in the sense that we now that all things in this universe are impermanent, that there is no permanent entity as soul and there is dukkha in attaching to things conditioned by impermanence and concept of permanent soul

Level 7(7 yr): We have achieved above levels. We understand the cycle of karma better. We understand karma better, i.e. we are aware our such and such an action will bear good or bad or no future implications.

Level 8(8 yr): We have achieved the above levels. We understand the different world systems, that of humans, gods, demons, hell, animals and hungry ghosts. We know what kind of action brings one to a particular world system. We understand the impermanent nature of all the world systems. We can empathize with the sufferings of each world system. We are thus motivated to grow above these world systems to be free from sufferings.

Level 9(9 yr): We have achieved the above levels. We know all the 12 links of dependent origination. We know which cause has which effect. We are able to intercept on at least one of the links and are able to break the cyclic cause and effect relationship and thus are very near to achieving Nirvana. Thus we know and act such that all your actions, speech and thought are free from cause and effect. All our karmas are now non-volitional i.e. not involving desire or craving.

Level 10(10 yr): We have achieved the above levels. We have now attained Nirvana and can see the world as it is. The world as impermanent, with no concept of self and the world full of sufferings caused due to ignorance to see the truth. Thus free from ignorance all actions, speech and thoughts are perfected. We are now an Arahant. But wait! Be cautious! We may not have achieved Nirvana and will be lethargic and can drift back from this stage. So we must maintain our awareness and maintain the state where all our sufferings have ended because of our wholesome acts or acts not involving desire. We may still have to suffer physical pain as our human body has a tendency to decay, old age and death. We may also have to suffer for our bad karma in the past but no new karma is created.

The years mentioned against each level is to give an idea of the amount of effort one needs to put at each level to attain Nirvana. Thus with proper efforts we can achieve Nirvana in 10 years or less or more depending on our efforts and grasping of insight and acting upon it and also on the level and effort in meditation. We may not achieve complete perfection in each level unless we go to the next level. E.g. our actions and speech will not be perfect unless we reach level 3 where our thoughts are purified. Our thoughts will not be pure unless we are totally aware all the time of all our thoughts in level 4, which will not be perfected unless in level 5 our meditation is perfected and we have trained our mind to monitor itself.

Normally soul is supposed to be a permanent entity residing in the body of a living being that differentiates it from non-living things. When a living being dies that soul leaves the body and finds another body to be reborn as another living being.

But in reality there exists no such permanent entity as soul. There is just a continuation of consciousness. Rebirth is in the form of continuous change in our body and mind. Thus we are continuously born and reborn. This concept is equally applicable to both form of rebirth that of rebirth in same life and after life. So you do not need a proof of rebirth for this chapter to be applicable to you.

Rebirth is a very important doctrine in Buddhism. Buddha refuted following doctrines as not true and will not lead to human development:

One of nihilism that says that there is no birth after this birth. Thus there is no future opportunity to do good or rectify our bad karma.

One of fatalism where one’s future is predetermined and there is no role of our will and no way to rectify our future.

Where one’ future is determined by an act of external agent.

When we speak of Rebirth in Buddhism, we must give reference to the three Universal truths relating to existence:

Dukkha

Anatta

Anitya

Dukkha: (discussed in chapter 2 under Four Noble Truths) is also translated as unsatisfactoriness. This unsatisfactoriness of our life is what gives rise to our Karma, which in turn is the cause for continuation of our life. Until our karma and desire for life are exhausted life continues.

Anatta: is the concept of no soul or no self. As discussed earlier, there is no such thing as a permanent soul that is transferred from one body to another. Instead it is a continuation of our consciousness. This continuation of consciousness is not only on rebirth but it happens all the time for all living beings. From birth till death we are continuously changing both physically and mentally. Our thoughts, values, tastes, circumstances all change continuously. But there is a link between the changes our awareness, our memories, our link to the changing physically body and mind. This link of awareness and memories associated with life is what we call consciousness. As the link of consciousness exists from birth till death, the same continues even after death to the new body to form what we call rebirth.

Anitya i.e. impermanence: We change, our relatives change, our friends change, our environment change, our situations change. They give us temporary illusion of permanence. We still consider these as permanent. We have grown up with this illusion and we even teach the same to our children.

Nama and Rupa: Illusion of permanent entity or Identity is given by “nama and rupa” or Mind and Form duality. We confuse Name or Identity with form, and Form with name or Identity. Our language plays an important part in misleading us into believing that the name and form are one. While the form keeps changing we give it the same name, giving the impression of permanence. A popular analogy from “Milinda-Panha” (Questions of king Milinda) is that of a river, we call the river with the same name while the water is continuously flowing and at no moment there is same water in it to be called the same river. So is it with us, we keep on changing but still are referred by the same name.

The same process occurs at the time of death and rebirth. Our body changes, our consciousness is transferred to other body, we are reborn. The process is nothing different that during we are alive. Another analogy from the same book “Milinda Panha” is that of milk – milk first transforms into curd, curd into butter and butter into ghee. Once milk transforms into curd, we do not call it milk. Similarly for butter and for ghee, we do not call it milk or curd or butter once it has transformed. Thus after rebirth we cannot call ourselves the same person we were before rebirth nor can we call ourselves a totally different person as we have the same origin.

Concept of Rebirth builds on the concept of Karma that we discussed in previous chapter. The cycle of karma and its result forms the basis for the cycle of birth and death. Rebirth need not take place into human beings only. A person can be born into any of the 32 world systems depending on the gravity of the karma performed during this lifetime and previous lives.

Nirvana and rebirth: There is an important relations between rebirth and nirvana. After attaining nirvana, there is no desire left, no karma left, no continuity of consciousness, body continues its journey to old age and death and there is no further rebirth. While on attaining nirvana there is no rebirth at consciousness level during the lifetime, after death even body ceases to be reborn.

Rebirth and Karma are two important concepts that must be understood properly. They form an important part of right understanding or Wisdom and a strong basis for why we must maintain morality.

What is Karma?

Karma or kamma in simple sense is any action that can have a good or bad future effects. It is sometimes referred as cause eg. “Whatever is happening in your life is because of your good karma or bad karma”. Similarly karma is also referred as effect eg. “What is happening to you is your karma”. This is also the natural law of morality and not enforced by anybody. It works like all other natural laws.

All actions do not lead to effects in future. These actions with no future implications are non-volitional kamma (actions). These are actions that do not involve will or desire, like eating, drinking water, answering call of nature, walking, sleeping, etc. Thus only actions that involve will/desire/volition forms a karma and have future effects. Thus karma has a cause and effect relationship with our good or bad future, karma being the cause and our good or bad future being its result. This cause and effect relationship is also called as the Law of Kamma. This law also explains why some people suffer while some don’t, why some are poor and some are rich, why some are beautiful and some are ugly, why some are healthy and some are sick, why some are stupid and some are wise.

We will definitely argue that there are people doing all the wrong things and still living a happy life and there are people who do nothing wrong but suffer endlessly.

The law of karma is complex and we tend to forget what we have done. Also we never think of associating what has happened to what we have done. We also lack the ability of Buddha to link every karma to a past action, sometimes extending to infinite previous births (Jataka Tales are stories of Buddha’s previous births).

Factors affecting karma

Kamma is a natural law and no one enforces this law, like Newton’s laws of motion, Thermodynamics, etc.

Kamma cannot be transferred

It does not end with end of present life.

Everything that happens to us cannot be attributed to karma.

Depending on cause, Kamma can be classified into

Good karma,

Evil or bad karma

Neither good nor bad karma.

Depending on the how the karma bears fruit it is classified as

Weighty (serious karma – good or bad)

Proximate (karma at time of death – which determines our next birth),

Habitual

Reserve (other than all three).

Depending on time it bears fruit

Present birth

Next birth

Subsequent births

Depending on function it can be classified into:

Reproductive (that which bears result),

Supportive (they do not bear result but support the result of other karma),

Like this:

This Insight Chart is adapted from ‘Dependent Origination’ or ‘Wheel of Life’ chart ?

On the day Buddha attained Nirvana, during his meditation, he saw the true nature of all things and why people are unhappy. He understood the dependent origination. One thing leads to other and it forms a cycle which is difficult to break without proper understanding. Buddha understood why some people are happy and some are unhappy and are suffering. What he found out after years of effort, he made it available to everyone to benefit. He found the nature of all things, the dependent origination and the path to Nirvana. Now it is on each of us to put in effort and be free from suffering.

Old Age and Death – With birth arises Old Age and Death and all other related sufferings

There are two charts here. One is the original and lively pictorial chart in chapter on Dependent Origination, and the other, Insight Chart in this chapter, is the same chart mapped on the palm for better memorization and practice in daily life. Readers here have a choice to prefer the first chart or the second chart or both for different place and time. For being constantly aware of the dependent origination, we have had it adapted to be plotted on our Right Palm where we do not have to make any changes.

This chart shows how some people make their life miserable with their wrong thoughts, speech and action and how some people enjoy good life after freeing themselves of the root causes of suffering (Ignorance, greed and anger). It also shows the cause and effect relationship that makes our future good or bad and also how we can break the chain of cause and effect to become free of suffering and attain Nirvana.

Starting from the center of the palm,

1. The three root causes of suffering ignorance, greed and anger depicted by the edges of inner triangle of the palm.

2. Beings sliding down into life of suffering (marked by the dark arrow pointing down adjacent to line of greed in the picture) and Beings climbing up (Marked by a white arrow adjacent to edge of ignorance).

3. The Six worlds (marked on the mounts of the palm) of that of Human, Titans or asuras, Gods, Animals, Hungry Ghosts and Hell beings.

4. The Four fingers with their three phalanges each shows the twelve links of cause and effect relationships.

5. The thumb which has control of all activities of the palm represents the Mara – The God of Death who does not the let the activities stop.

6. The term Dependent Origination is also used for the 12 links forming a cycle of life & death or of each karma and its result. Each link is a cause for next link. We can stop the wheel/break the cycle by breaking any one of the 12 links. Thus the simplest way to attain Nirvana is breaking the cycle of karma. And breaking the cycle is breaking just one link. It is very easy, but to do that we need a lot of discipline and also right understanding. That brings us back to following the 8 fold path. This book will guide you through the process of freeing you from the cycle of karma. Of the 12 links we can observe 4 links being broken with each of the link being broken as we progress. Refer fig. 1 & 3. First fig shows the eight fold path on the palm, with action, speech, thought, awareness and concentration marked from top to bottom. Compare this with the 12 links in fig. 3. As soon as you start observing your actions and speech you start to break the cycle at the kamma-bhava (actions) link on index finger. When you observe your thoughts you break the cycle at craving link on middle finger as craving is followed by a flood of thoughts. With awareness you break the contact link on tip of ring finger as you are aware when there is any sense contact. You will observe how finer control is gained as you progress. With meditation you get still finer control of your karma on the little finger as your Volitional Activities are under control. Finally when you move towards your right hand and with insight you completely eradicate ignorance and you become finally free from the cycle of karma/wheel of life and move towards achieving Nirvana.

The ‘Dependent Origination’ is also known as The ‘Wheel Of Life’ or Bhavachakra. It shows how and why beings suffer due to their karma or willful actions.
At the center of the chart there is

A pig with its ears falling over its eyes representing ignorance / delusion,

A cock who feeds continuously representing greed / lust

A snake representing anger.

All three animals are seen holding the other animal’s tail representing dependent relation between delusion, greed and anger I.e. Dependent on delusion arises greed/lust, with greed/lust arises anger and with anger arises further delusion. We can fall down far lower than what can be represented by these poor animals.
Next to it is another ring showing beings falling down in lower realms and beings rising in better realms – engrossed or freed from greed, anger and delusion.
Surrounding it are the six world systems or realms where a being can exist dependent on their karma.

Sugati

Gods(Deva): They have everything they want and have a pleasurable life. They have a very long life which seems eternal. This world is again divided into 16 world ranging from angels to the highest Brahma Loka. But once their good karma has exhausted they have to return back into one of the lower realms. Here a white Buddha can be seen playing harp reminding the Gods that their stay is temporary.

Titans/Demi-gods/Demons(Asura): They have everything they want, including wealth and power, but still fight amongst themselves and with Gods for more. Here a green Buddha can be seen with a flaming sword in hand teaching them moral restraint.

Humans(Manushya): In this world human beings experience both pleasures and pains of all the other world systems. In addition Humans can have knowledge, will and ability needed to attain Nirvana and be free from suffering. This is why Human birth is fortunate and most suitable for attaining Nirvana among all the realms. This is also the reason why we must not waste this birth and mind our karma, and if possible try to attain Nirvana. We must also note that we now have the Buddha’s teachings – the guide, to attain Nirvana, which may in few 100 or 1000yrs be lost and the world may have to wait for the arrival of the next Buddha, which may be a very long long time. Here a yellow Buddha is seen teaching humans four noble truth and showing path to enlightenment.

Duggati:(woeful states)

Hungry Ghost (Peta yoni): They keep on lusting after things, but are unable to get it. It is represented by beings with large belly and small mouth unable to eat enough to fill their stomach. Even what little they swallow causes intense fire in their stomach and whatever they drink turns into blood. Here a red Buddha can be seen holding a bottle of potion to heal these beings and teaching them to be generous.

Hell (Naraka): Beings in this realm are tortured mercilessly. The hell is divided into hot and cold hells. Here Mara can be seen at the center holding a mirror in one hand and a weighing scale in other showing beings their deeds and giving punishment as per the weight of their karma. Here an indigo Buddha can be seen holding a lantern showing light of enlightenment in the darkness of hell.

Animals (Prani): Here beings lack knowledge about good or bad/right or wrong and hence are unable to control their karma. This is also the only realm visible to us with our limited senses. Here a blue Buddha can be seen with a book in hand imparting wisdom and virtue of ethical conduct.

It can be observed that while some beings experience pain and others pleasure, what is common is that the state is impermanent and leads to Dukkha/unsatisfactoriness and the only way out of Dukkha is Nirvana.
The outer ring is the 12 dependent links or the dependent origination.

Avijja:There is a blind man walking with the help of a stick. It represents Ignorance/Dellusion.

Dependent on Ignorance arises volitional activities. It is represented by a potter making a pot (forming own karma with own actions).

Dependent on volitional activities arises relinking consciousness, represented by a monkey jumping from one branch of tree to another leaving half-eaten fruit for another, like our mind never still for even a moment.

Nama-Rupa: Dependent on relinking consciousness arises name and form duality. It is represented by twins rowing a boat.

On name & form depends our six senses(five senses + mind which can emulate all the other senses). It is represented by a house with five windows and a door.

Dependent on the six senses arises contact of each sense with its corresponding object. It is represented by a man and woman embracing.

Dependent on contact arises sensation or feeling blinding us from choosing right from wrong. It is represented by a man with arrow pierced in his eye.

Depending on contact arises craving. It is represented by a woman offering a drink to a man.

Depending on craving arises attachment, represented by a monkey plucking a fruit from tree – a reaction a result of craving.

kamma-bhava :On attachment arises becoming represented by a man and woman making love and giving rise to new life.

Jati: On becoming arises birth represented by a woman giving birth.

On birth arises sickness, old age and death and all suffering related with life.

This ‘wheel of life’ can be seen rotated continuously by Mara – the symbolic God of death. Mara can be seen with three eyes four legs with claws and with sharp teeth rotating the Wheel of Life and not letting it stop.
Outside the wheel of life Buddha can be seen completely free from the Dependent Origination or the ‘Wheel of Life’ showing his disciple the way of Nirvana.

Karuna, Metta, Upekka and Mudita are four kinds of Brahma Viharas or heavenly abodes (or states of mind). Essence of any one of them cannot be grasped without knowing the other three Brahma Viharas.

Karuna: Karuna is compassion for all people and beings who are less gifted than us and are suffering. It helps us reduce our pride and greed.

Mudita: Mudita is Sympathetic joy or feeling joy in prosperity and happiness of others. This emotion is developed for people or beings better gifted than us. It helps us reduce our jealously.

Upekka: Upekka is Equanimity. It is, treating all people and all beings equal and accept others as they are. It helps us reduce our indifference.

Metta: Metta is love for all beings. We usually love only those we are related and like. But Metta is loving all beings without any conditions whether they are rich or poor, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, ill & diseased or healthy, whether we know them or not, whether they are humans or animals or other beings. It helps us reduce our hate and anger.

Most of our emotions love, hate, anger, sympathy, etc are for our personal need/greed or towards those we know or love. But these Brahma Viharas are emotions that are noble and encompass all beings and are non-selfish.
These help us overcome greed, anger, hate, possessiveness and jealously. But these emotions or states of mind are uncommon in most of us. Hence they need to be consciously developed.

Metta meditation is a common practice in Buddhist meditation. You can practice meditation on these Brahma Viharas. Here is the instructions you can follow to develop these Brahma Viharas:

Begin by sitting comfortably in traditional meditation posture – legs folded, back straight and head lightly balanced on the shoulder. Those uncomfortable can sit on chair with feets flat on the floor.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Observe each part of your body slowly from head to toe. As you observe each part relax the part relieving any tension on that part.

Then mentally repeat these statements to develop Brahma Viharas:

May I have

good health (to do all my tasks, support my family, help society and care all beings),

wealth (and all resources including money to meet my needs, my family needs and provide for the needy),

love & respect (for myself, from all relatives, friends and all people I know),

success (in all things I do and intend to do for myself, for my family and at my profession) and

mindfulness (and awareness of all actions, speech & thoughts at all time whether I am alone or with my family or at my profession)